BOOK OF THE YEAR FICTION: DÉBUT
OVERVIEW In the Début shortlist, Prize winner is up against some “must-read” titles of the year. The authors racism, domestic slavery, prejudice, alcoholism and identity. Each of the shortlistees wrapped these complex themes in beautiful, sought- and entertaining it a tough category for
EXCITING TIMES Pre-empted by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in a seven-way auction just two days after submission, Naoise Dolan’s Exciting Times became one of the must-read débuts of the year. The Irish author’s novel follows 22-year-old Ava as she leaves Ireland for Hong Kong, in a bid to make her own money and become independ- ent. “A bracing, refreshing first novel,” said the Observer.
SHUGGIE BAIN Douglas Stuart’s début novel is set in Glasgow during the years of Margaret Thatcher’s prime ministership, and tells the story of a boy’s attempt to save his alcoholic mother from her addiction. Rejected by 12 British publishers before it was picked up by Picador, the début ended the year with a Booker Prize win under its belt—it is one of just five début novels to have won the award.
PUBLISHERS
1 WEIDENFELD & NICOLSON
2 FIG TREE 3 DIALOGUE BOOKS 4 PICADOR 5 BLOOMSBURY CIRCUS 6 SCEPTRE
SUCH A FUN AGE Kiley Reid’s Such a Fun Age follows Emira, who is appre- hended at a supermarket by a security guard for “kidnapping” the white child she is, in fact, babysitting: a scene which is depicted on the wallpaper- esque front cover design. Published by Bloomsbury Circus, this timely look at race relations in the US today was called “witty and incisive” by the Times.
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THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE This début from Nigerian author Abi Daré tells the story of 14-year-old Adunni, who is sold into marriage by her father. Through a series of misadventures she escapes, but only to be sold into domestic slavery in Lagos. Daré’s ambitious tale was a Waterstones Book of the Month and one of the retailer’s paperback of the year picks.
GHOSTS Podcaster and memoirist Dolly Alderton’s first work of fiction tackles the protagonist’s early twenties, and themes of love, memory, ageing and identity. Fig Tree started the campaign early, creating a big online buzz and securing a Vogue inter- view for the author a month ahead of publication, generat- ing a significant number of pre-orders. “Poignant,” said the Sunday Times.
RAINBOW MILK Paul Mendez’s book was submitted as a memoir in publisher Sharmaine Lovegrove’s first week at Dialogue. On her advice, Mendez spent two years re-working it into his début, which follows a young, Black, gay, Jehovah’s Witness from the West Midlands who flees to London, finding work as a prostitute. “Frank, urgent and fresh” said the Independent.
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